Method for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material and device for carrying out the method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material, comprising the molding of at least two sheet-like, web-shaped preforms of plasticated thermoplastic material in a multi-part tool forming a cavity to form two complementary shells, and also the joining together of the shells to form a substantially closed hollow body, wherein the preforms are brought between open parts of the tool which each have part-cavities, the parts of the tool are then closed against a tool separator arranged between the preforms, and the preforms are inserted into the part-cavities with the use of differential pressure and molded. In a subsequent separate method step, the tools are reopened and internal components of the hollow body to be produced are fastened to the shells. Finally, the shells are joined together by reclosing the tools to form a closed hollow body.

The invention relates to a method for producing hollow bodies fromthermoplastic material, comprising the molding of at least twosheet-like, web-shaped preforms of plasticated thermoplastic material,and also to a device for carrying out the method.

The invention relates in particular to a method for producing hollowbodies from thermoplastic material by extrusion blow molding.

In the extrusion blow molding of plastic products, molding tools whichcomprise two mold halves which are formed to complement one another andtogether delimit a mold cavity or a cavity are usually used. Athermoplastic extrudate, usually in the form of a parison, is broughtbetween the open halves of the tool. The tool closes around the preform,the latter is made to lie within the tool against the inner wall of thecavity formed by the tool, and so the finished article has an outershape which corresponds to the inner contour of the molding tool. Thepreform is re-formed within the cavity of the tool either by expansionof the preform by means of gas pressure or by making the preform lieagainst the inner wall of the tool by means of negative pressure, whichis applied by way of channels in the wall of the mold.

In particular in the production of technical components, such as fueltanks, which are produced in one piece from thermoplastic material, itis necessary to fasten various internal components in the hollow body.For a wide variety of reasons, it is necessary and expedient tointroduce the internal components into the hollow body as early asduring the production of the latter. In the production of hollow bodiesusing conventional extrusion blow molding, in which an extrudate in theform of a closed parison is brought between the open halves of the tooland the parison is expanded within the closed tool to form the finishedhollow body, the internal components can be introduced, for example, byso-called “encapsulation by blow molding” during the production. In thismethod, the components to be introduced are inserted into the parison bymeans of an appropriately designed holding device before the parison isexpanded within the closed tool, and are fastened to the wall of thecavity possibly with the aid of further movable components within thetool when the preform is made to lie against said wall. These methodsare very complicated and are limited to a relatively great extent,particularly with regard to the subsequent position and number of theinternal components in the finished tank. In the production of fueltanks by the extrusion blow molding of tubular extrudates, it istherefore still necessary to fasten certain internal components in thetank after it has been finished. The wall of the tank may need to bedamaged for this purpose.

It is often necessary, for example in order to fasten venting valves,safety valves and the like, to provide circular cutouts or apertures inthe wall of the tank, in order to make it possible to securely fix saidvalves at a suitable position on the wall of the tank.

It is known that the thermoplastic materials used for the production offuel tanks are not completely resistant to hydrocarbons, and so the wallof the tank has to be designed as a multilayered extrudate with barrierlayers for hydrocarbons. Alternatively, it is possible to subject theinner wall of the tank to chemical treatments, for example fluorinationor sulfonation. Any damage to the wall of the tank resulting from theproduction of holes, circular cutouts or the like is undesirable owingto the required permeation resistance for fuel tanks, since complicatedsealing of openings of this type is subsequently necessary.

Particularly against the background of the above-described problemrelating to the introduction of internal components and functionalcomponents into fuel tanks for motor vehicles, methods which have provedto be particularly suitable for producing fuel tanks of this type arethose in which at least two sheet-like, web-shaped preforms ofplasticated thermoplastic material are re-formed in a multi-part toolforming a mold cavity with two outer molds and at least one centralmold, which perform an opening and closing movement in relation to oneanother, wherein internal components are fastened via the central moldor the core to the inner wall of the hollow body to be produced. Forthis purpose, the tools are initially closed around the core. Internalcomponents are fastened to the preform in a predefined layout by meansof the core, the core is removed between the mold halves, the moldhalves are then closed again and the fuel tank is blow-molded to thefinal shape. A method of this type is known, for example, from WO2007/088200 A1. A further comparable method is known, for example, fromEP 1 773 570 B1. Finally, a method of this type is known, for example,from U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,812 B2.

The methods described above provide the particular advantage that, inthe case of relatively complex structures of the tank to be produced,internal components can be fitted, in the interior of the tank to beproduced, on the wall of the tank at virtually any desired locationthereof in any desired layout, without it being necessary to damage thewall of the tank in terms of a piercing, aperture or circular cutout.

For a wide variety of reasons, it is advantageous when employing suchmethods to draw on the existing extrusion technology which is also usedfor the conventional extrusion blow molding from the parison. This isparticularly advantageous because it is possible to draw on existingextruders and extrusion die heads, and because there are relativelysimple ways to control the radial and axial wall thickness of theextrudates. This is particularly expedient for the co-extrusion ofmultilayered preforms with relatively complex melt control in theextrusion die heads.

For this reason, it is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,812 B2, forexample, to split or separate an extruded tubular preform atdiametrically opposite locations to form web-shaped, sheet-likepreforms, and to bring these web-shaped preforms between the open partsof the tool, to be precise by continuous extrusion in the gravitationaldirection above the tool.

Depending on the position and arrangement of the internal components tobe introduced into the tank, the core used for this purpose has to havea relatively high structural depth, which ultimately predefines theminimum distance between the web-shaped preforms which are to be movedapart. For this reason, it is necessary, as is likewise described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,866,812 B2, to move the preforms by means of complexroller conveyors and to keep them at a distance from one another betweenthe open parts of the tool.

In addition, the core or the central tool has a relatively complexdesign. Specifically, it has to be designed such as to also make itpossible to reliably seal the cavity of the tool in addition to thepossibly hydraulically or pneumatically retractable and extendablecomponent holders, heating devices, stamping dies or the like. Finally,the central tool has to withstand the entire closing pressure of thetool, since generally in a first step, when re-forming and molding thepreforms to form half-shells, a blowing pressure of at least 5 bar hasto be applied. As a result, the required central tool is relativelyexpensive, not least because it has to be designed completely to toolquality.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method forproducing hollow bodies, in particular fuel tanks, of thermoplasticmaterial from sheet-like, web-shaped preforms, which avoids thedisadvantages mentioned above. In particular, the method should beeasier to carry out and require less investment in the devices to beprovided for this purpose.

The object is firstly achieved by a method for producing hollow bodiesfrom thermoplastic material, comprising the molding of at least twosheet-like, web-shaped preforms of plasticated thermoplastic material ina multi-part tool forming a cavity to form two complementary shells, andalso the joining together of the shells to form a substantially closedhollow body, wherein the preforms are brought between open parts of thetool which each have part-cavities, the parts of the tool are thenclosed against a tool separator arranged between the preforms, and thepreforms are inserted into the part-cavities with the use ofdifferential pressure and molded, in a further separate method step thetools are reopened and internal components of the hollow body to beproduced are fastened to the shells, and finally the shells are joinedtogether by reclosing the tools to form a closed hollow body.

Within the context of the invention, closing is not necessarilyunderstood to mean closing with the application of significant closingforces, at least in the case of initial closing. Rather, it suffices inthis context to move the tools such as to seal the cavities, which makesit possible for the preforms to be molded to form shells.

The web-shaped preforms can be provided according to the invention bothby separating a previously extruded parison at diametrically oppositelocations and by extruding web-shaped preforms from slot dies spacedapart from one another. For this purpose, an extrusion die head as perDE 10 2006 042 065 A1 can be used, for example, this document herebybeing fully incorporated by reference, also for the purpose ofdisclosure.

Suitable extrudates are preferably co-extrudates of thermoplasticmaterial with barrier layers for hydrocarbons. In the context of theinvention, however, it is also possible to process web-shaped preformsfrom single-layered extrudates. It is preferable to extrude theweb-shaped preforms on the basis of HDPE. By way of example, six-layeredco-extrudates with HDPE as the base material and with EVOH as thebarrier material are suitable.

In a further preferred refinement, the method comprises the continuousextrusion of at least two sheet-like, web-shaped preforms in thegravitational direction above the open parts of the used tool.

The invention can be summarized by stating that, according to the methodaccording to the invention, the method steps of re-forming and moldingthe preforms to form shell-shaped elements and the joining of internalcomponents to the inner wall of the shells thus produced are carried outin two separate method steps, and are functionally separated from oneanother in terms of tools. For the molding of the shells usingdifferential pressure within the cavity of the tool, it is thus merelynecessary to seal the cavity of the tool in such a manner that thecomplementary shells do not fuse together.

Within the context of the present invention, complementary is to beunderstood as meaning at least two shell-shaped components which areformed in each case to fit together in a manner such as to provide thefinished hollow body when they are joined together or combined.

The method according to the invention has the particular advantage thatmerely a simple tool separator is required to mold the shells, and thistool separator has to fulfill only one sealing function. The structuraldepth of the tool separator can be independent of the position andarrangement of the internal components to be introduced into the hollowbody, and so it is no longer necessary to guide sheet-like or web-shapedpreforms extruded above the tools in the gravitational direction. Thesecan be extruded at the distance apart which is predefined by theextrusion die head, without having to be kept at a distance from oneanother or guided, in particular by the use of roller conveyors,manipulators, grippers, heated rods or the like. This is particularlyadvantageous when using an extrusion die head, as described in DE 102006 042 065 A1, in which a tubular melt stream of the co-extrudate issplit, by the appropriate formation of flow channels within theextrusion die head, into two substantially sheet-like, web-shaped planarmelt streams.

The method has the further advantage that the internal components to beintroduced into the hollow body or into the fuel tank can be manipulatedwhen the tool is open.

By way of example, the internal components can be introduced by means ofconventional 3D manipulators, which can be positioned at an appropriatelocation of the blow molding machine.

The preforms can be introduced into and molded in the part-cavities ofthe parts of the tool either by the application of excess pressureand/or by the application of negative pressure over the tools. For thispurpose, negative pressure channels or negative pressure openings, forexample in the form of porous regions, can be provided in the tools.

In a preferred variant of the method according to the invention, it isprovided that the internal components are fastened to the shells bymeans of a component carrier which can be brought between the open partsof the tool.

The shells are preferably molded using the first heat of the extrudate,i.e. using the plastication heat from the extrusion.

In a particularly preferred variant of the method according to theinvention, it is provided that the internal components are fastened tothe shells using the first heat of the extrudate, i.e. that the internalcomponents are brought or joined to the inner wall of the shells, i.e.that wall which faces away from the wall of the mold, when the shellsare still in the molten state. By way of example, the internalcomponents can be riveted or welded to the shells when the latter are inthis state, possibly with the aid of additional welding energy by meansof IR radiators or with the aid of welding mirrors.

In a further expedient variant of the method according to the invention,the introduction of additional thermal energy into the shells can beprovided in the sense of intermediate heating immediately after theshells have been molded and before internal components are introduced.The temperature of the still hot-plastic material of the shells canadditionally be controlled in this manner, for example, by means ofradiated heat or the application of hot air (convective heat transfer).

Leadthroughs can also be provided in the wall of the shells for theintroduction of interfaces during the molding of the shells orimmediately after the shells have been molded and before the internalcomponents are introduced. Interfaces of this type in the form offittings to be led through the wall of the shells can then be introducedinto the shells in the next method step, in which the joining of theinternal components takes place.

In one variant of the method according to the invention, it is providedthat the internal components are arranged on the component carrier inthe intended installation position in relation to one another and/or onthe shells, i.e. that these are already arranged on the componentcarrier in accordance with the later layout on the walls of the tank.

The joining of the internal components can take place, for example, bymeans of stamping dies which are retractable and extendable from theplane of the component carrier. This can alternatively be carried out bymeans of a component carrier frame which is retractable and extendablefrom a central frame.

In one variant of the method according to the invention, it is providedthat the internal components are fastened to the shells using a closingmovement of the tools. This means that the internal components arearranged statically on the component carrier, and the closing movementor the stroke movement of the tools in the direction of the componentcarrier is used for the joining of the internal components.

Within the context of the invention, it can be provided that thecavities are also sealed when the parts of the tool are being closedagainst the component carrier, in order possibly to bring about furtherapplication of blowing pressure and/or flushing of the cavity of thetool.

In an expedient refinement of the method according to the invention, itis provided that the tool separator used is a central frame or a centralplate, which absorbs the closing force when the tools are being closedand brings about circumferential sealing of the cavity.

It is particularly expedient if the temperature of the tool separatorand/or parts of the tool is controlled, in order to prevent prematurecooling of the flanges of the shells to be fused together or in order toprevent excessive heating of the flanges and bonding of the flanges tothe tool separator, and in order to ensure that the shells can still befused together.

If the tool separator is in the form of a central frame/sealing frame,it is possible for heating devices for the intermediateheating/intermediate temperature control of the molded shells to beprovided within the frame. Suitable heating devices are, for example,infrared radiators or hot-air blowers. Optionally, it is possible toprovide additional functional units, for example in order to pierce thewall of the shells in order to produce interfaces to the outside of thetank, in the tool separator in the form of a central frame/sealingframe.

If the tool separator is in the form of a central frame/sealing frame,it can be provided, for example, with removable profiled top pieces,which are formed in each case with a spatially curved profile of thesealing edge according to the profile of the later joins of the shellsof the fuel tank. As a result, it is possible to provide a standardizedtool separator for different tools with different cavities which,depending on the product to be produced, is equipped withcustomer-specific, mountable profiled top pieces.

In one variant of the method according to the invention, the componentcarrier provided is a core, around which the parts of the tool can closein order to join the internal components to the shells in a predefinedlayout. The component carrier used is preferably a central frame,against which the parts of the tool can be closed.

If the component carrier used is a central frame, this central frame canin principle be in the form of an open, i.e. laterally accessible,frame. If the component carrier has an open design, significantly lessexpensive joining cylinders and a significantly less expensive sensorsystem can be used, since these no longer have to be temperature- andpressure-resistant.

The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a devicefor carrying out the method, said device comprising a multi-part blowmolding tool having at least two mold halves, which each formpart-cavities with a contour that corresponds to the contour of theshells to be molded, and having at least one tool separator which can bemoved transversely to an opening and closing movement of the moldhalves, wherein the tool separator is in the form of a central frame orcentral plate, which is designed exclusively to absorb the closing forceof the mold halves and to seal the cavity of the blow molding tool.Within the context of the above statements, exclusively means that thetool separator has no means for receiving and fastening internalcomponents in the hollow body to be produced or on the shells.

In an advantageous refinement of the device according to the invention,provision is made of at least one component carrier, which can be movedtransversely to the opening and closing movement of the blow moldhalves.

The component carrier and the tool separator can be arranged on a commonmachine frame.

By way of example, they can be arranged on the machine frame at a fixeddistance from one another, wherein the machine frame can be moved inrelation to, and transversely to the opening and closing movement of,the blow mold halves.

Alternatively and also in addition, it can be provided that thecomponent carrier and the tool separator are arranged on the machineframe such that they can move in relation to one another.

The method according to the invention will be explained below, withreference to the appended drawings, on the basis of an exemplaryembodiment:

FIG. 1 a shows a schematic illustration of a device according to theinvention at the start and at the end of a production cycle,

FIG. 1 b shows a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 a,

FIG. 1 c shows a partial section along lines C-C in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 1 b, in which the tools areclosed against a tool separator arranged between the preforms,

FIG. 3 shows the molding of the preforms to form shells,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the open tools after the shells have beenmolded,

FIG. 5 shows a view of the open tools immediately before the internalcomponents are introduced,

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the closed tools during the introduction ofthe internal components,

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the closed tools after the internalcomponents have been introduced,

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the open tools after the internal componentshave been introduced,

FIG. 9 a-9 c show views, which correspond to FIGS. 1 a-1 c, immediatelybefore the tools are closed in order to join the shells together to forma finished article,

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the closed tools with the finished article,

FIG. 11 a-11 c show views which correspond to FIGS. 1 a-1 c andillustrate the removal of the finished article.

Reference is firstly made to FIGS. 1 a-1 b, which show a schematic viewof a blow molding tool 1 and of an extrusion die head 2 for carrying outthe method according to the invention. The blow molding tool 1 comprisestwo blow mold halves 3, which are fastened to platens 4 in a knownmanner and can be moved away from one another and toward one another inthe sense of an opening and closing movement. Although the term “blowmold halves” has been used above, it is within the scope of theinvention if the individual tool parts which each form part-cavities 5have a multi-part design. Each of the blow mold halves 3 does notnecessarily have to form half of the tool or of the mold cavity/of thecavity. The parting plane of the blow mold halves 3 also does notnecessarily have to geometrically form half the partition of the tool.

The platens 4 are part of a basic machine frame (not shown in moredetail) which can be moved in relation to the stationary extrusion diehead 2, as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, the extrusion die head 2 is shown in greatly simplifiedform. It comprises two slot dies 6, from each of which sheet-like orweb-shaped preforms 7 extending in a straight line into the plane of thedrawing are extruded continuously in a suspended manner, i.e. in thegravitational direction. The preforms 7 preferably each consist of anextrudate having a total of six layers, comprising an outer HDPE layerdyed in carbon black, a recyclate (regrind) layer based on HDPE, an EVOHbarrier layer surrounded on both sides by bonding agent, and also afurther, undyed HDPE layer. The layers of bonding agent can be based onLDPE, for example.

In addition to the basic machine frame (not shown), the blow moldingtool 1 according to the invention comprises a machine frame 8, which canbe moved in relation to the basic machine frame and transversely to theopening and closing movement of the platens 4. A tool separator 9 and acomponent carrier 10 are arranged on the machine frame 8 at a distancefrom one another.

The tool separator 9 is substantially in the form of a sealing frame,the peripheral sealing surfaces 11 of which define a peripheral contourwhich approximately follows the delimitation of the part-cavities 5 ofthe blow mold halves 3.

The component carrier 10 is likewise in the form of a central frame,within which there are individual component holders 12 in the form ofpneumatic piston-cylinder arrangements with fastening means.

In the drawing, the structural depth of the tool separator 9 and of thecomponent carrier or central frame 11 is shown to be approximatelyequal, specifically for reasons of simplicity. In actual fact, thestructural depth of the tool separator 9 is lower than that of thecomponent carrier 10. In the simplest case, the tool separator 9 can bein the form of a simple plate, possibly with means for applying blowingpressure to the cavity.

The distance between the component carrier 10 and the tool separator 9on the machine frame 8 corresponds approximately to (greater than orequal to) the width of the clamping frame or of the platens 4.

As has already been mentioned, the component carrier 10 and the toolseparator 9 can also be arranged on the machine frame such that they canmove in relation to one another. In this case, the movement path has tobe greater than or equal to the width of the platens 4.

FIG. 1 a-1 b show the blow molding tool 1 at the end and at the start ofeach working cycle. A working cycle of this type comprises firstly thecontinuous extrusion of the preforms 7 to a length which correspondsapproximately to the height of the blow mold halves 3, as shown in FIG.1 c. The preforms 7 are extruded between the open blow mold halves 3,specifically in each case between a blow mold half 3 and the toolseparator 9 arranged between the blow mold halves 3. In a further methodstep, shown in FIG. 2, the blow mold halves 3 close against the toolseparator 9 arranged therebetween, pinching off and/or severing thepreforms 7 at the extrusion die head 2, possibly with the aid of furthertools for separating the continuously extruded preform 7. This closingmovement of the blow mold halves 3 is superimposed by a movement of thebasic machine frame away under the extrusion die head, as outlined inFIG. 2. The cavity or the mold cavity of the blow molding tool 1 isclosed, and the tool separator 9 thereby absorbs the closing forces ofthe blow mold halves 3 and simultaneously seals the cavity of the blowmolding tool 1. The preforms 7 are then placed into the part-cavities 5of the blow mold halves 3 using a vacuum and/or excess pressure andmolded, as shown in FIG. 3. The blow mold halves are opened and movedwith respect to the machine frame 8 to the left in the plan view, asshown in FIG. 4. In this respect, it is not important whether themachine frame 8 is movable in relation to the basic machine frame and inrelation to the blow mold halves 3, or whether the blow mold halves 3and the platens 4 are movable in relation to the machine frame 8. Thisis elective and depends on the space available for positioning the blowmolding tool 1 and the extrusion die head 2.

In a further method step (FIG. 5), the component carrier 10 is placedbetween the blow mold halves 3. The blow mold halves 3 are then closedagain. It is not necessary to completely close the blow mold halves 3during this process in order to obtain a seal. The step of closing theblow mold halves 3 against the component carrier 10 is therefore onlyoptional.

In a further method step, the component holders 12 within the componentcarrier 10, which were equipped with internal components 13 at the startof the working cycle, are moved in the direction of the shells 14 formedin the part-cavities 5. The internal components 13 are joined to theshells 14 or fastened thereto using force from the stroke movement ofthe component holders 12.

In the drawings, this process is only shown in relation to one shell 14,but the invention is to be understood as meaning that internalcomponents 13 can be fastened to both shells 14.

By way of example, such fastening can be effected by riveting in themanner described, for example, in German patent application DE 10 2006006 469 A1, this document hereby being fully incorporated by reference,also for the purpose of disclosure.

Finally, the component holders 12 are moved back into their initialposition (FIG. 6), and the blow molding tool 1 is opened, i.e. the blowmold halves 3 are moved apart (FIG. 8). The platens 4 are moved into theinitial position, shown in FIG. 9 b, between the tool separator 9 andthe component carrier 10, and then the blow mold halves perform aclosing movement, during which the shells 14 arranged therein are fusedtogether at the edges (FIG. 10). At the same time, the tool separator 9is already placed between the preforms 7 (further cycle). At the sametime, the component holders 12 are equipped with internal components 13.

Finally, the blow mold halves 3 are opened (FIG. 11 b) and the finishedarticle provided with internal components 13, in the form of a fuel tank15, is removed upward from the open tool (FIG. 11 b, FIG. 1 a).

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Blow molding tool-   2 Extrusion die head-   3 Blow mold halves-   4 Platens-   5 Part-cavities-   6 Slot dies-   7 Preforms-   8 Machine frame-   9 Tool separator-   10 Component carrier-   11 Sealing surfaces-   12 Component holders-   13 Internal components-   14 Shells-   15 Fuel tank (article)

1.-11. (canceled)
 12. A molding device, comprising: a multi-part blowmolding tool having at least two mold halves, wherein the at least twomold halves form a cavity to form two complementary shells, and havingat least one tool separator moveable transversely to an opening andclosing movement of the mold halves, wherein the tool separator is in aform of a central frame or a central plate designed exclusively toabsorb a closing force of the mold halves and to seal the cavity of theblow molding tool.
 13. The device according to claim 12, furthercomprising at least one component carrier moveable transversely to theopening and closing movement of the mold halves.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the component carrier and the toolseparator are arranged on a common machine frame.
 15. The deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the component carrier and the toolseparator are arranged on the machine frame at a distance from oneanother, and in that the machine frame and the blow mold halves aremoveable in relation to one another.
 16. The device according to claim14, wherein the component carrier and the tool separator are arranged onthe machine frame such that the component carrier and the tool separatorare moveable in relation to one another.
 17. A molding device,comprising: a multi-part blow molding tool having at least two moldhalves, wherein the at least two mold halves form a cavity to form twocomplementary shells; and having at least one tool separator moveabletransversely to an opening and closing movement of the mold halves,wherein the tool separator is in a form of a central frame or a centralplate arranged to seal the cavity of the blow molding tool when closingforces of the mold halves are applied against the tool separator; andhaving at least one component carrier moveable transversely to theopening and closing movement of the mold halves, wherein the componentcarrier is adapted to carry at least one component installable on aninner surface of at least one of the shells, and wherein the componentcarrier is not contained within the tool separator.
 18. The deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein: the component carrier and the toolseparator are arranged on a common machine frame.
 19. The deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein: the machine frame and the blow moldhalves are moveable in relation to one another.
 20. The device accordingto claim 18, wherein: the component carrier and the tool separator arearranged on the machine frame at a distance from one another.
 21. Thedevice according to claim 20 wherein: each mold half is fastened to oneof two platens; each platen has a width; and the distance between thecomponent carrier and the tool separator is greater than or equal to thewidth of each platen.
 22. The device according to claim 18, wherein: thecomponent carrier and the tool separator are arranged on the machineframe such that the component carrier and the tool separator aremoveable in relation to one another.
 23. The device according to claim22, wherein: each mold half is fastened to one of two platens; eachplaten has a width; and the component carrier and the tool separator aremoveable in relation to one another along a movement path; and a lengthof the movement path is greater than or equal to the width of eachplaten.
 24. The device according to claim 17, wherein: the componentcarrier has a component carrier depth; the tool separator has a toolseparator depth; and the tool separator depth is less than or equal tothe component carrier depth.